Guidebook for San Jose
Essentials
Trader Joe's
635 Coleman AveA good, generally economical choice for groceries.
Safeway Market
A smaller downtown location, close to public transportation.
lots of prepared foods to go and an onsite brewery at this location.
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Whole Foods Market
777 The Alamedalots of prepared foods to go and an onsite brewery at this location.
Neiman Marcus Last Call
1230 Great Mall DrNice clothes, decent discounts.
Shopping
Safeway
2760 Homestead RdThe closest full service grocery store within driving distance.
Target
533 Coleman AveFor everything and anything you may have forgotten.
CVS
821 The AlamedaA handy pharmacy.
A fancy outdoor mall modeled after Las Ramblas in Barcelona. Great place for a stroll and some people watching. The Cinearts Theatre is very comfy.
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Santana Row
Santana RowA fancy outdoor mall modeled after Las Ramblas in Barcelona. Great place for a stroll and some people watching. The Cinearts Theatre is very comfy.
A good mall nearby, parking can be tight as they are remodeling at the moment.
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Westfield Valley Fair
2855 Stevens Creek BlvdA good mall nearby, parking can be tight as they are remodeling at the moment.
Nordstrom Rack Westgate Mall
1600 Saratoga AveDecent shoes and clothes at better prices than the regular Nordstrom.
REI
130 East El Camino RealGear, outerwear, sporting goods.
Sports Basement Campbell
1875 S Bascom AveShoes, clothes, sporting goods.
The Wine Club
1200 Coleman AveNo membership needed, beer, and alcohol too.
Costco Wholesale
150 Lawrence Station RdThey have cheap gas here too.
Food Scene
Great coffee and a Bay Area institution, started in Berkeley in the late 60's. Peet's begat Starbucks.
This is what I serve at home.
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Peet's Coffee
1295 The AlamedaGreat coffee and a Bay Area institution, started in Berkeley in the late 60's. Peet's begat Starbucks.
This is what I serve at home.
Chipotle Mexican Grill
3952 Rivermark PlazaA 10-15 minute walk from the house.
Vito’s Trattoria
90 Skyport Dr8 min walk from the house.
La Victoria Taqueria
140 East San Carlos StreetCheap Mexican food nearby.
Vung Tau
535 E Santa Clara StI love this place for high quality Vietnamese cuisine.
Panera Bread
4180 N 1st StAmerican food, two miles or so by car.
IZAKA-YA
1335 N 1st StThe closest restaurant, 2 1/2 blocks away.
Right next to the Japanese restaurant Izakaya on the corner, a mere 2 1/2 blocks away.
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Jade Cathay Chinese Restaurant
1339 N 1st StRight next to the Japanese restaurant Izakaya on the corner, a mere 2 1/2 blocks away.
In-N-Out Burger
550 Newhall DriveSome people are nuts about this place.
Finger lickin' good BBQ served in a no nonsense atmosphere. Betcha won't see another tourist here.
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Smoking Pig BBQ Company
1144 N 4th StFinger lickin' good BBQ served in a no nonsense atmosphere. Betcha won't see another tourist here.
A coworker says this place has very good catfish among other specialties!!
Lillie Mae’s House of Chicken and Wafflez
1240 Coleman AveA coworker says this place has very good catfish among other specialties!!
A teensy little New Orleans style place recently opened by our local 3 star Chef David Kinch. If you're looking for fried green tomatoes, oysters, or a Po Boy look no further.
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The Bywater
532 N Santa Cruz AveA teensy little New Orleans style place recently opened by our local 3 star Chef David Kinch. If you're looking for fried green tomatoes, oysters, or a Po Boy look no further.
Do you have $700 and three hours to spare? 3 Michelin stars generally require advance planning but you can always pop in for a drink and see how the other half lives. Dress appropriately. Los Gatos is a 10 minute drive down the freeway, there are loads of other restaurants to accommodate more plebian budgets too.
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Manresa
320 Village LnDo you have $700 and three hours to spare? 3 Michelin stars generally require advance planning but you can always pop in for a drink and see how the other half lives. Dress appropriately. Los Gatos is a 10 minute drive down the freeway, there are loads of other restaurants to accommodate more plebian budgets too.
Great local produce, meat, fish, and prepared foods. Year round.
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Campbell Farmer's Market
South Third StreetGreat local produce, meat, fish, and prepared foods. Year round.
Starbucks
101 E Santa Clara St10-15 minute walk from the house.
Entertainment & Activities
Ice skating! Indoors, year round, skate rentals. Check their website for public skate nights, you'll be skating on the rinks the San Jose Sharks practice on. Sports bar upstairs overlooks 3 rinks.
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Solar4America Ice (San Jose)
1500 S 10th StIce skating! Indoors, year round, skate rentals. Check their website for public skate nights, you'll be skating on the rinks the San Jose Sharks practice on. Sports bar upstairs overlooks 3 rinks.
Arts & Culture
The San Jose Giants, farm team for the SF Giants, free tickets are easy to come by at the Trader Joes on Coleman.
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San Jose Giants
588 E Alma AveThe San Jose Giants, farm team for the SF Giants, free tickets are easy to come by at the Trader Joes on Coleman.
A small old fashioned theatre with new, cushy seating. Vibrant downtown setting.
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Los Gatos Theatre
43 N Santa Cruz AveA small old fashioned theatre with new, cushy seating. Vibrant downtown setting.
4th Street Bowl
1441 N 4th StA pretty funky place, bowling, billiards, and a real dive bar on the premises.
A Casino? Yes, they actually have a good sports bar with about 15 large screen TV's and occaisionally live music. 10 minute walk.
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Casino M8trix
1887 Matrix BlvdA Casino? Yes, they actually have a good sports bar with about 15 large screen TV's and occaisionally live music. 10 minute walk.
Parks & Nature
Guadalupe River Trail
Guadalupe River TrailGreat place for a run, head north from the airport.
Rancho San Antonio County Park
My favorite place for a hilly trail run.
Park at the first parking lot before the main gate if you can get a spot and run the south rim trail.
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Alum Rock Park
15350 Penitencia Creek RdPark at the first parking lot before the main gate if you can get a spot and run the south rim trail.
Getting Around
Hop on the Caltrain for points north and the City by the Bay!
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San Jose Diridon Station
65 S Montgomery StHop on the Caltrain for points north and the City by the Bay!
Bicycle Express
131 E William StWith a little advance planning these folks will deliver a nice rental bike to you.
Black Sheep Bicycle Rental
With a little advance planning these folks will deliver a nice rental bike to you.
VTA, Valley Transit Authority is San Jose's public transport. The Gish station is just 2-3 short blocks away. Take the light rail north to Sunnyvale and Mountain View or downtown to connect to CalTrain for trips to San Francisco.
Gish Station (North)
VTA, Valley Transit Authority is San Jose's public transport. The Gish station is just 2-3 short blocks away. Take the light rail north to Sunnyvale and Mountain View or downtown to connect to CalTrain for trips to San Francisco.